Fret and fingerboard for stringed instruments

Abstract

A fret and fret board assembly for a stringed instrument provide increased fret stability and serve to increase the duration of fretted notes played on the instrument. Each fret includes a string-engageable cap, a relatively high-mass tang or resonation bar which fits snugly within a mating groove in the fret board and a pair of wings which extend outwardly in opposite directions from the cap and tang and engage the fret board to provide additional stability to the fret and further add to the mass of the fret. The tang preferably has a relatively large outer perimeter so that the interface between the fret board and each of the tang and wings is generally increased. The tang is preferably configured for installation and removal by sliding the fret lengthwise in and out of the groove. The fret board may include reinforcing rods.

1. A fret for a stringed instrument comprising:
 a cap having a string-engageable top and a bottom; 
 a tang having a top and a bottom and adapted to fit within a groove in a fret board; 
 a first wing having a top permanently secured to the bottom of the cap and a bottom permanently secured to the top of the tang; the first wing extending laterally outward from the bottom of the cap and the top of the tang in a first direction to a first terminal edge; and 
 a second wing having a top permanently secured to the bottom of the cap and a bottom permanently secured to the top of the tang; the second wing extending laterally outward from the bottom of the cap and the top of the tang in a second direction opposite the first direction to a second terminal edge; the bottoms of the first and second wings adapted to abut an upwardly facing surface of the fret board when the tang is in the groove. 
 
   
   
     2. The fret of  claim 1  further comprising first and second ends on the fret defining therebetween a longitudinal direction of the fret; and wherein the tang has a cross sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret which is at least 0.005 square inch. 
   
   
     3. The fret of  claim 2  wherein the cross sectional area of the tang perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret is at least 0.01 square inch. 
   
   
     4. The fret of  claim 3  wherein the cross sectional area of the tang perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret is at least 0.02 square inch. 
   
   
     5. The fret of  claim 2  wherein the tang has an outer perimeter measured along a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret; the bottom of the first wing intersects the top of the tang at a first intersection; the bottom of the second wing intersects the top of the tang at a second intersection; the first intersection and the first terminal end define therebetween along the perpendicular cross section a first width; the second intersection and the second terminal end define therebetween along the perpendicular cross section a second width; and the total distance of the outer perimeter, the first width and the second width is at least 0.25 inch. 
   
   
     6. The fret of  claim 5  wherein the total distance is at least 0.35 inch. 
   
   
     7. The fret of  claim 1  wherein the top of each wing is horizontal. 
   
   
     8. The fret of  claim 1  wherein the top and bottom of the first wing are parallel to one another; and the top and bottom of the second wing are parallel to one another. 
   
   
     9. The fret of  claim 8  wherein the first and second terminal edges define therebetween a horizontal width which is at least 5/32 inch. 
   
   
     10. The fret of  claim 9  further comprising a first connection between the top of the first wing and the bottom of the cap; a second connection between the bottom of the first wing and the top of the tang; a third connection between the top of the second wing and the bottom of the cap; and a fourth connection between the bottom of the second wing and the top of the tang; and wherein the top and bottom of the first wing define therebetween a constant height in the range of 0.020 to 0.060 inch from one of the first and second connections to the first terminal end; and the top and bottom of the second wing define therebetween a constant height in the range of 0.020 to 0.060 inch from one of the third and fourth connections to the second terminal end. 
   
   
     11. The fret of  claim 1  further comprising first and second ends on the fret defining therebetween a longitudinal direction of the fret; and wherein the first and second terminal edges define therebetween a first horizontal width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret which is at least 5/32 inch. 
   
   
     12. The fret of  claim 11  wherein the first horizontal width is at least 3/16 inch. 
   
   
     13. The fret of  claim 11  wherein the tang has a second horizontal width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret which is at least 5/32 inch. 
   
   
     14. The fret of  claim 1  further comprising first and second ends on the fret defining therebetween a longitudinal direction of the fret; first and second edges on the cap defining therebetween a horizontal maximum width of the cap perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret; and wherein the bottoms of the first and second wings extend respectively outwardly beyond the first and second edges of the cap a first distance which is at least ⅙ the maximum width of the cap. 
   
   
     15. The fret of  claim 14  wherein the first and second terminal edges of the wings define therebetween a horizontal width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret which is at least 3/16 inch. 
   
   
     16. The fret of  claim 14  wherein the first distance is at least ⅓ the maximum width of the cap. 
   
   
     17. The fret of  claim 1  further comprising first and second ends on the fret defining therebetween a longitudinal direction of the fret; first and second edges on the cap defining therebetween a maximum horizontal width of the cap perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret; and a first horizontal tang width of the tang at its top perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret which is at least ¾ the maximum width of the cap. 
   
   
     18. The fret of  claim 17  further comprising a second horizontal tang width of the tang perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fret at a height which is below the top of the tang and which is greater than the first tang width whereby the tang is adapted to form an interference with the fret board when within the groove to prevent removal of the tang from within the groove in an upward direction. 
   
   
     19. The fret of  claim 1  further comprising first and second edges on the cap defining therebetween a maximum width of the cap; and first and second portions of the tang which extend respectively in the first and second directions outwardly beyond the first and second edges of the cap by at least 0.03 inch. 
   
   
     20. The fret of  claim 1  in combination with the fret board; and further comprising first and second ends on the fret board defining therebetween a longitudinal direction of the fret board; a groove which is formed in the fret board transverse to its longitudinal direction and in which the tang is received; at least one slot elongated in the longitudinal direction of the fret board; and at least one reinforcing rod elongated in the longitudinal direction of the fret board and secured to the fret board within the at least one slot.